Local workshop teaches composting

Life in the Soil: Fundamentals of the Soil Foodweb will be Nov. 1, 2 and 3 from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

This three day class, offered at Fellows Riverside Gardens – Mill Creek MetroParks in Youngstown, will be taught by Dr. Elaine Ingham, a world-renowned soil microbiologist and founder of the Soil Food Web. For more than three decades Dr. Ingham has helped thousands of individuals and companies improve their agricultural practices through a deeper understanding of what soil health really means.

Dr. Ingham’s teaching style makes it easy to comprehend how important biology is to healthy soil. This class will illustrate nutrient cycling, taking us beyond NPK and beyond organic to examine the biological agents of plant nutrient cycling in the context of chemistry, biology and scientific data produced by land grant universities. Once you understand soil biology, all the other pieces fall into place. You will comprehend how compost, cover crops, fertilizers, and compaction affect the quality and health of your soil. The knowledge you gain will allow for a more holistic and simple approach to growing your crops as well as weed management.

This class will give you the knowledge necessary for a comprehensive understanding of complex forms of life in the soil, their interactions and importance for agriculture.

This class is recommended for professionals working with vegetables, grains, orchards, landscapes, turf, hydroponics, etc. as well as agricultural advocates who wish to gain a greater understanding of soil health. It is considered a prerequisite for students who intend to take Rodale’s Compost, Compost Tea/Extract and Soil Microscopy classes.

To register online go to www.growyoungstown.org/lifeinsoil.html or call Elsa Higby at 330-286-0688.

Cost is $300. Tuition for this class does not include lunch. However, you may purchase a locally sourced lunch all three days as a registration option.